Smart bandage

Abstract

A sensing chip attached to a bandage monitors the healing process of a wound by detecting growth factors, thrombin and fibrinogen. The complementary metal-oxide semiconductor includes a functionalized working electrode, functionalized counter electrode and functionalized reference electrode. The healing progress is stimulated by generating oxygen in the wound.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A disposable wound-healing monitoring device comprising:
 a bandage having a first surface configured to face a wound; 
 a sensor attached to the bandage on the first surface, the sensor being a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor chip comprising a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode; and 
 a selectively thrombin-binding or selectively fibrinogen-binding aptarner attached to a wound-facing surface of the working electrode, the counter electrode or the reference electrode, 
 wherein the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor chip is configured to monitor an amount of thrombin or fibrinogen in the wound as a function of time by
 detecting over time an absence or presence of thrombin or fibrinogen in the wound based on the selectively thrombin-binding aptamer binding or not binding to thrombin or the selectively fibrinogen-binding aptamer binding or not binding to fibrinogen, 
 generating a corresponding signal, and monitoring healing of the wound over time based on said signal. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to generate oxygen within the wound. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to be powered wirelessly by a reader device, and to communicate wirelessly with the reader device. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor and the reader device each comprise a coil, the coils configured to transmit power to the sensor and to communicate between the sensor and the reader device. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a thiol group attached to the thrombin binding aptamer. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode are made in a form of concentric shapes. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the concentric shapes comprise squares. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode are fabricated on a surface of the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor chip. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase on the working electrode, the device being configured to measure a current on the working electrode, thereby measuring glucose. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor chip is configured to measure a process of hemostasis and inflammation to identify infections in wounds.